[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 23609]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




PROVIDING FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF A STATUE OF HELEN KELLER, PRESENTED BY 
                         THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to 
take from the Speaker's table Senate Concurrent Resolution 42 and ask 
for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Maffei). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 42

       Whereas Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama on June 
     27, 1880, and at the age of 19 months lost her sight and 
     hearing as a result of meningitis;
       Whereas Helen was liberated from the ``double dungeon of 
     darkness and silence'' by her teacher, Anne Sullivan, when 
     she discovered language and communication at the water pump 
     when she was 7 years old;
       Whereas Helen enrolled in Radcliffe College in 1900 and 
     graduated cum laude in 1904 to become the first deaf and 
     blind college graduate;
       Whereas Helen's life served as a model for all people with 
     disabilities in America and worldwide;
       Whereas Helen became recognized as one of Alabama's and 
     America's best known figures and became ``America's Goodwill 
     Ambassador to the World'';
       Whereas Helen pioneered the concept of ``talking books'' 
     for the blind;
       Whereas LIFE Magazine hailed Helen as ``one of the 100 most 
     important Americans of the 20th Century--a national 
     treasure''; and
       Whereas Helen's presence in the Capitol will become an even 
     greater inspiration for people with disabilities worldwide: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That--

     SECTION 1. ACCEPTANCE OF HELEN KELLER, FROM THE PEOPLE OF 
                   ALABAMA, FOR PLACEMENT IN THE CAPITOL.

       (a) In General.--The statue of Helen Keller, furnished by 
     the people of Alabama for placement in the Capitol, in 
     accordance with section 1814 of the Revised Statutes of the 
     United States (2 U.S.C. 2131), is accepted in the name of the 
     United States, and the thanks of Congress are tendered to the 
     people of Alabama for providing this commemoration of one of 
     Alabama's most eminent personages.
       (b) Presentation Ceremony.--The State of Alabama is 
     authorized to use the Rotunda of the Capitol on October 7, 
     2009, for a presentation ceremony for the statue. The 
     Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board shall 
     take such action as may be necessary with respect to physical 
     preparations and security for the ceremony.
       (c) Display in Rotunda.--The Architect of the Capitol shall 
     provide for the display of the statue accepted under this 
     section in the Rotunda of the Capitol for a period of not 
     more than 6 months, after which period the statue shall be 
     displayed in the Capitol, in accordance with the procedures 
     described in section 311(e) of the Legislative Branch 
     Appropriations Act, 2001 (2 U.S.C. 2132(e)).

     SEC. 2. TRANSMITTAL TO GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA.

       The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit an enrolled copy 
     of this concurrent resolution to the Governor of Alabama.

  The concurrent resolution was concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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